91原创

By Nicholas Wood

When The Ohio D.O. profiled the Wagner family in its Summer 1983 issue, Thomas Wagner鈥攖he youngest of 10 siblings鈥攚as early in his junior high career, witnessing his older brother Mark graduate from 91原创 College of Osteopathic Medicine.

As preteens many of us were preoccupied with such frivolities as middle school crushes and the general woes of puberty鈥檚 miserable early stages. But when he was 12, Wagner already expressed his 鈥減re-osteo interest,鈥� seeing in his brother鈥檚 achievement the 鈥渃ompletion of a dream that might someday be [his] too.鈥� 

After all, in addition to Mark, his father served Amherst, Ohio, as a D.O., and five more of his older siblings followed the same path. As they each worked their way through medical school, Wagner even served as their Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment dummy, for a modest five-dollar fee. 

鈥淚t was everything I'd always known growing up,鈥� Wagner said. 鈥淚n a household like that, with a family like that, you're around it all the time鈥ou know, you go to med school. That's just what you do.鈥�

It may seem that his graduation from OHIO鈥檚 College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1998 was a foregone conclusion, but for Wagner it was a decision made on his own terms. Walter, his father, never pressured any of his children to follow in his footsteps. Still, witnessing the passion he carried with him to work each day left an indelible mark. Wagner was inspired to lead a life equally as fulfilling as his father鈥檚 seemed to be. 

Just outside of Cleveland, in North Ridgeville, Ohio, he鈥檚 achieved just that. At University Hospital鈥攚here he鈥檚 spent the past 23 years specializing in family medicine鈥擶agner has forged long lasting relationships with his patients, some beginning as early as the day they were born.

鈥淩ecently I was doing a newborn exam with one of my patients, and she said to me, 鈥榶ou know, you did the same exam on me 22 years ago,鈥欌�� Wagner said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 another family that I see five generations of鈥攖he great grandparents, the grandparents, the parents, the kids and now the great grandkids.鈥�

His philosophy is to take care of people, not problems. Creating a welcoming atmosphere for patients to feel comfortable communicating their needs is Wagner鈥檚 number one priority. This commitment to his patient鈥檚 humanity is undoubtedly what affords him such fulfilling, long-lasting connections.

Beyond the clinic, as well, Wagner makes sure to prioritize the important relationships in his own life. When the whole family gets together, conversations about medicine are left at the door as they focus on simply being around one another. He also prides himself on never missing any of his three kids鈥� events throughout their lives, even remaining involved as his daughter鈥攚ho has her sights set on attending Heritage College in the fall鈥攚orks through her undergraduate studies at OHIO. Last fall, Wagner spoke to her and her fellow pre-Student Osteopathic Medicine Association (SOMA) club members about his profession, though, he admits, she did have her pick of the family tree.

鈥淪he also had one of my siblings and my nephew come talk to the group as well,鈥� Wagner said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 funny鈥擨 mean, she's asked me about my career, but I think she's talked more to her cousins who are nurses or doctors about it. She鈥檚 definitely been inspired by them.鈥�

Though humble as he reflects on the role he鈥檚 played in his family鈥檚 and patients鈥� lives, Wagner鈥檚 passion and enthusiasm for his profession is palpable. He鈥檚 undoubtedly made a lasting, positive impact on those around him鈥攋ust as his father鈥檚 (and uncles鈥� and sisters鈥� and brothers鈥� and cousins鈥�) zeal impacted him as a young man. After all, to steal a pun from the article written about the Wagner family back in 1983: 

鈥淭he Wagners: They know how to D.O. it.鈥�